- Safiu Kehinde
At least 26 people have been confirmed injured in the Abuja-Kaduna train collision which occurred on Monday.
NPO Reported that incident occurred around 10:30am near the Asham train station along the Abuja-Kaduna train corridor.
With the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) already confirming the incident, the corporation’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, would release an update on the accident in a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to the interim report released by Opeifa, 26 people comprising of the passengers, medical crew, cleaners, passengers and security personnel sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The NRC boss disclosed that a total of 481 people comprising of 429 passengers, 10 train crews, and 26 security personnel including Man O War.
Others include six food vendors, eight cleaners, and two third party operators including a nurse and TPS operative.
Opeifa recounted how the power car and trailing locomotive of the train, which departed from Rigassa station around 7:15am, had collided with one of its coaches which decoupled as it approached the Asham station.
While confirming that none of the trains derailed, the NRC boss said the cause of the decoupling is yet to be ascertained.
“KA-2 service departed at right time- 07.15 a.m. from Rigassa station. The train arrived Jere 1 minute ahead of schedule at 08.52 a.m. and departed Jere at 08.59 (6 minutes behind scheduled departure due to coupling of loco 2809 to the rake to create more resilience).
“At about 9.16 a.m. on approach to Asham station at KM 50-51, a loud bang was heard as the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the coaches.
“Preliminary report suggests an issue with one or more couplers. None of the trains derailed. The reason for the possible decoupling is yet to be ascertained.
“Two vehicles and the trailing locomotive involved in the incident were subsequently detached: Loco 2809, power car BVA0002 and passenger coach SP0006.
“The train left site at 09.42 a.m. and arrived in Kubwa at 10.10 a.m. and destination in Idu at 10.39 a.m. The train experienced a total of 38 minutes delay (time used to detach the accidented stocks from the full rake).” Opeifa said.